Thursday, January 28, 2016

Senate Republicans in the education committee voted out SB 6195
with significant changes. This is the bill that creates a framework for a final
funding solution to McCleary. All four Senate Democrats voted against.

The changes include increasing the number of task force
legislators who must agree with any recommendations that are to be forwarded to
the 2017 legislature from 5 to 6.

Perhaps of more concern is the change which requires legislative
action on local levies and levy assistance sometime in 2018. The original bill
had action in 2017. The change includes addressing the scheduled
reductions in school district levy authority scheduled to roll back January 1,
2018. School districts have testified that the levy cliff must be addressed
this session to avoid widespread school employee layoffs for the 2017-18 school
year.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

The state House of Representatives today passed HB 1295 by a
69-28 margin. The bill would create "breakfast after the bell"
programs in high-needs schools across the state, and is one of the WSPTA's top
5 priorities this session.

Republican Camas Rep. Liz Pike offered an amendment to
encourage school districts to give preference to breakfast foods that are
healthy, fresh and Washington-grown. Her amendment was accepted, and is now
incorporated into the bill.

HB 1295 would focus on schools where 70 percent of students
are eligible for the federal free and reduced price meal programs. To help
districts get started, the bill includes one-time start-up grants
of $6,000. The estimated cost of the program is about $2.3 million.

The bill now moves to the state Senate and the Senate Early
Learning & K-12 Education Committee for consideration.

The Senate includes a similar program in part 2 of SB 6244.
This bill doesn't specifically call out "breakfast after the
bell" but refers to "nutritional enhancements." It has yet
to be voted out of the Senate committee, and doesn't go as far as the House
version.

Celebrating service since 1905

Washington State PTA is the largest volunteer association in the state, with more than 132,000 members in 850+ local PTAs.

Our vision? Make every child's potential a reality. We will do that by being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for the well-being and education of every child.